Whiskey University
Frequently Asked Questions
(F.A.Q.)
How Many Classes May I take Per Day/Month?
You may take as little as one class per quarter up to our Maximums. We encourage an aggressive class scheduling. Students are permitted to take up to six (6) class per calendar month and not more than one (1) class per day.
What/when are diplomas/Degrees provided in parchment?
The first two levels called the “Bourbon Certificate or Tennessee Whiskey Certificate” and the “Bourbon diploma” are all emailed to you from a Regional Instructor Coordinator approximately two weeks of you completing the requirements of five and 10 classes. Click here to read about all the requirements: First Steps — Whiskey University
All of the degrees (the top five “Degree” levels) “Associate Degree; Bachelor of Science Degree; Bachelor of Arts Degree; Master of Science Degree; and Master of Arts Degree” will be physically mailed to you on parchment card stock approximately three-four weeks after completing the requirements for each Degree. Your Regional Instructor Coordinator will also email you a .PDF file and a .JPEG file of each degree for your own personal use approximately two weeks after earning your Degree.
What/when are diploma frames provided?
ONE wooden frame is mailed to each student upon completing their Associate Degree. We suggest that you frame your highest 2 Degrees earned. In addition to that, here are links to the size and style of frame that is suggested for each Degree on the website under each Degree. Many people frame ALL their Degrees and Certificates.
That means , at a minimum, you would swap out your lowest Degree with the highest Degree earned each time or you can select these links to Amazon for each frame level that other instructors across the nation are using for each appropriate Degree. For the link to purchase additional bachelor Degree frames, click the following:
What/when are various pins provided?
A 1” Whiskey University Copper Lapel Pin is mailed out after the completion of your associate degree requirements, it is sent with the physical parchment degree.
A 1” Whiskey University Antique Sterling Silver Lapel Pin is mailed out to you upon the completion of your Bachelor of Arts degree requirements, it is mailed with the physical parchment degree.
A 1-1/4 inch Whiskey University Gold Lapel Pin (not real gold) with corn stocks and bourbon barrels. The pin is mailed to you upon completion of your Masters of Arts Degree requirements, it is mailed with the physical parchment degree.
Where are the Major class-requirements listed?
Students are Required to declare a major for the bachelor tier of degrees typically when you have reached 20 or 21 credits. This “Tier” includes both the bachelor of science and bachelor of arts degree. Only one major is needed for the pair of degrees together.
There are eight different majors, and eight courses in each particular major are required before your degree is conferred upon you. All eight majors with each of their requirements can be found on the Whiskey University website at this link: Choice of Majors — Whiskey University
In 2024: the Bourbon Capital Region major, the Bluegrass Region major, the Whiskey Row Region major, the Tennessee Whiskey Region, the Maryland Rye Region, the World Whiskey major and the Craft Whiskey major all will require eight classes.
The Canadian Whisky region is the only major that only requires seven classes since that major has limited classes to choose from.
You are also Required to declare a double major for your masters degree tier, which includes your masters of science degree and masters of arts degree. That double degree does include your first major that you declared within your bachelor degree tier. So only one additional major is required for the pair of degrees combined.
When/how do we get an audit?
Students are required to declare your first major at 20 or 21 classes earned. A declaration of major should be done by emailing Colonel Craig Duncan at ColonelCraig@WhiskeyUniv.com, as to which major you have selected. Once that occurs he will forward your declaration to the department head of your choice and they will provide a degree audit for you within a week to two weeks.
You are required to declare a double major at 37 to 38 classes, and the same process occurs as above. Once you receive a degree audit you can use that as a tool to keep track of all the classes you have taken and the ones that you haven’t.
When/how are business cards provided?
Business cards are provided only two times during your Whiskey University career. Whiskey University covers the cost of the graphic artist to compose the front and back of the business cards while the student is responsible for printing. Once composed, the business cards can be printed locally by the student or online using Whiskey University‘s Office Depot account and having the business cards mailed to them within seven to ten days. Even when using Whiskey University’s office depot account, the student is responsible for covering the cost of Printing with a credit card online.
The first set of Business cards are earned upon your attainment of your Bachelor of Arts degree, the rank of captain and the title of Master Whiskey Taster. The second set of business cards are earned on your attainment of your Masters of Arts degree, the rank of lieutenant, colonel, and the title of Chartered and Master, Whiskey Taster.
When/how is an email address provided?
Email addresses are provided to any graduate that obtains their associate degree. A cost of $10 covers that email address for 3 to 6 years.
What’s the policy for website hierarchy on Instructors?
Seniority is a big thing with Whiskey University, and graduates are listed on their local market pages based upon their rank. In most cases, the higher rank will place you higher upon the faculty bio page if several graduates have the same rank and title seniority, which will apply in most cases.
Where can WU accessories/clothing be purchased?
Many accessories, and Whiskey University products can be purchased by going to the website and clicking on shop. It can also be found at this URL.
Fancier embroidered polo shirts can be found on the Whiskey University website as well under this URL:
Twice a year there is a three week window at the same URL above so that instructor specific polo shirts can be purchased for the same price.
When/to whom does a Bio/picture need to be submitted?
Students earn their picture on the website once they earn their associate degree. Students earn a write up on their faculty biography once they obtain their bachelor of science degree. That write up must be in a set format, which will be supplied to the student when ready.
Who is my WU contact for continuing information?
Students will be assigned a mentor once they earn their certificate of completion. The main contact for that mentee or student from that point on should be their mentor first. Also, each state has a state leader, and any student can reach out to them as well.
What are WU costs for taking classes?
Classes are $40 each online through the Eventbrite website. Or the first three classes can be taken from the Whiskey University by watching to one hour videos and taking the quiz.
What are the costs for degrees?
In many cases, after being nominated from an existing alumni, or graduate or coming from an area of need (in which whiskey University is looking for an instructor in that local designated market) the certificate of completion, which is the first to level of degrees at whiskey, university can be obtained for free.
The tuition for an associate degree equal to 18 classes is $399. If said student already has earned their certificate of completion, then an additional $238 will be assessed in tuition for their associate degree as opposed to $399.
To continue with Whiskey University beginning in 2024, the Bachelor tier of degrees, which include both the bachelor of science and bachelor of arts degree will be an additional $198.
The exact same circumstances, true to continue with Whiskey University for your masters tier of Degrees, which includes both the masters of science and masters of arts degree will be an additional $198.
Please add an overview of how instructors get paid and how much they get paid?
The split of Every class is 66.7% of the Ticket price to the Venue (since they supply all the alcohol, the room and the liability insurance) then 33% of the Ticket price is sent to Whiskey University. We require that payment within 7 days of when the class is taught. Of that 33% we pay 27% of the Ticket price is paid to the Instructor. We pay the instructor the same day we receive the money. That can be paid via PayPal, VenMo or a check sent through U. S. mail. It is the Instructor’s choice.
What is the “Bourbon Brigade?”
The Bourbon Brigade is a Non-Profit Organization that can be set up in any market that wants to meet monthly on an informal basis and socialize outside of a formal classroom setting. The requirement to form a chapter is to have at least 6 students that have earned their Associate Degree in the local “Designated Market” and a Market Leader that has earned a Master Degree.
What is the purpose of military rank and ribbons?
This is so that all other people within Whiskey University (that may not know said person) knows instantly how far in the program that Instructor/Student has gone with us and in general, what level of knowledge they have.
When we take a distillery tour, how does this affect our progress at WU?
The more Distillery Tours that a person takes the more it can help their achievement level. An Instructor/Student earns 1 credit for every 3 Whiskey Distillery Tours they go on throughout the U. S. and Canada (note other Spirits and other Countries do NOT qualify). The visit must have a Tour attached to it that you went on. Tastings, Cocktail Hours, Self-Guided Tours and just Visits do NOT count. It must be a Guided Tour with History taught within it.
Proof should to either ColonelCraig@WhiskeyUniv.com or Sarah.Y@WhiskeyUniv.com. Proof can be sent in one of three ways.
Forward a Copy of the email you received after purchasing the ticket.
Send a Picture of the Physical Ticket or Wristband that they gave you at the Distillery, or 3.) Snap a Selfie that is Date Stamped in front of their Still.
Mention has been made of forming local social groups. How does this work?
The Informal Local Social Groups are the Bourbon Brigade, please refer to the Answer of question #2.
How can we generate more online interest for our local market?
Occasionally send a Post out on Facebook talking about a class that you are about to take and invite others as students to take the class as well. Note if the Student is not an Instructor, there will be a $35.00 on EventBrite to take the class.
Also, in Markets that we have a strong State Leader we will Advertise from Whiskey University to find more Instructors.
I teach whiskey classes in my market area now and consequently have the ability to modify my presentations in ways to best fit my audience. Can I do this with WU classes?
Our policy is to allow the Instructor to add, delete or change up to 20% of the material. "Personalization" is the keyword as we want our Instructors to be able to tell their stories and experiences within the class.
We allow the restaurants/instructors to change up to two of the nine samples in each class. If they want to change more, we just suggest they pick a different class as we have 96 to choose from.
How are we, as new WU faculty, supposed to operate, get and schedule classes?
First, locate several venues in your area. Collect three bits of Intel 1.) Do they have a separate room with a TV or Projector?
Who is the decision maker? Get an email and phone # for the decision maker.
What type of Whiskey Selection do they have?
Then email the decision maker the WU Flyer.
Talk to the owner/manager and see if they are interested in finding out more about Hosting WU classes. If yes, we set up a "Venue Orientation" with as many people as they would like on a Zoom call. You are present and we let them know what they can expect from you, from WU and what we expect from them. We go over the structure of the class and what they need to have their staff do. We also go over the Advertising expectations for the Venue, the Instructor and WU.
We then ask for a 6 month commitment and send them the Course Agreement for them to sign.
What are the faculty best practices, the do’s and don’ts?
Currently we explain how to do a class during the Train-the-Trainer Semester. In semester #1 of 2022 there is a new course which will focus on these items. It is called; "Marketing You and Whiskey U." It is about 40% complete but will be taught by two of our Instructors led by Michael Kutner in Philadelphia.
What is the price structure supposed to be?
The Venue providing the alcohol determines the Ticket Price. We make the following recommendations:
Basic classes are $39 to $69 a person for a Ticket.
Intermediate classes are $65, $75 and $85 a person.
Advanced classes are $109, $129 and $159 a person.
Some of the determining factors are:
Are they going to provide a finger food bar or an appetizer in the Ticket price,
Which samples are they providing from the list we send three weeks in advance,
Are they in a Metro market or a rural market?
Are they in a boom market or a depressed market?
Are there any other unusual circumstances to consider?
How do we get the Venue’s to buy in? What’s in it for them?
They get 15-30 new customers to their venue once a month and some of those customers over and over again which is a key to developing loyal clientele down the road.
They make 100% of all food, drink and alcohol purchases above the ticket price. They turn a slow weeknight into a cash cow.
What support assistance does WU provide with regard to Venue development?
WU provides: Advertising, Class structure, the Instructor, the class material, Table Tents or Table cards, Tasting Sheets and Sample Mats to the Restaurant.
WU supports the Instructor by doing the Venue Orientation and closing the sale and we have a separate EventBrite set-up meeting with the vendor three weeks prior to the first three classes.